Ethnic/ Racial Variables Impacting Physiological Functioning NURS 6501 CASE STUDY ANALYSIS WEEK 4 Interaction between Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology

Interaction between Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology

In the case of this patient, the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary systems interact to affect the patient’s clinical presentation. Congestive heart failure compromises the pumping mechanism of the heart leading to reduced cardiac output. Reduced cardiac outputs leads to more fluid shifting to the pulmonary circulation. Boorsma et al. (2020) stated that fluid accumulation in the pulmonary systems including in the alveoli of the lungs leads to pulmonary congestion. Pulmonary congestion leads to impaired gaseous exchange and dyspnea. Boorsma et al. (2020) mentioned that pulmonary congestion further worsens the impairment in the cardiac pumping mechanism, further worsening the CHF. Fluid retention and overload leads to a combined manifestation of cardiac dysfunction and respiratory distress. CHF leads to fluid retention which makes it difficult for the patient to breathe freely when lying flat on bed. Orthopnea involves an impact of cardiac dysfunction on breathing while the patient is in a certain position. Understanding how the two systems interact helps optimize interventions to ensure that the patient’s condition improves appropriately.

Ethnic/ Racial Variables Impacting Physiological Functioning

It is essential to consider racial and ethic variables that influence physiological functioning. Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare affect the morbidity and mortality of congestive heart failure and other conditions affecting the cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary systems. Lewsey & Breathett (2021) mentioned that genome research found that human beings are 99.9% similar regardless of race or ethnic background. The finding makes it clear that the high prevalence of heart failure and adverse outcomes among racial minorities is barely a result of genetic factors (Lewsey & Breathett, 2021). “Self-identified African-American or Black patients, and Hispanic patients have disproportionately high prevalence of HF in comparison to other racial groups” (Lewsey & Breathett, 2021).

African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanics harbor a majority of modifiable risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes (Lewsey & Breathett, 2021). The main reason for the conditions include poor socio-economic status which makes it difficult for ethnic and racial minorities to adopt healthy lifestyle. The racial minorities have limited knowledge on dietary considerations such as avoiding high-fat foods which increase the risk for atherosclerosis and later heart failure. A majority of racial minorities have no formal education and have limited health literacy on the causative factors of heart failure. Health illiteracy makes a patient become noncompliant to medications. In the case of this patient, she stops taking diuretic because it makes her urinate more. She does not understand that she needs to loose that fluid for her heart and lungs to be healthy.

Conclusion

Cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary systems operate in a vicious cycle with failure of one contributing to failure or dysfunction of the other. In this patient, both systems contribute to worsening of the physiological functioning of the other. Racial and ethnic factors influence the physiological functioning of the two systems. A racial group that adopts sedentary lifestyle and poor diet may gradually negatively impact the functioning of the two systems.

References

Ariyaratnam, J. P., Lau, D. H., Sanders, P., & Kalman, J. M. (2021). Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Prognosis, and Management. Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics, 13(1), 47-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccep.2020.11.004

Boorsma, E. M., Ter Maaten, J. M., Damman, K., Dinh, W., Gustafsson, F., Goldsmith, S., … & Voors, A. A. (2020). Congestion in Heart Failure: A Contemporary Look at Physiology, Diagnosis and Treatment. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 17(10), 641-655. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-020-0379-7

Lewsey, S. C., & Breathett, K. (2021). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Heart Failure: Current State and Future Directions. Current Opinion in Cardiology, 36(3), 320. https://doi.org/10.1097%2FHCO.0000000000000855

Sample Answer 2 for